Romans 1 - 3 are some of the most difficult passages to read because they give us a glimpse into the depravity of humanity. We have to stop and take a long look at ourselves as Paul unpacks what sin has done to us. Fortunately, Paul doesn't leave us here. We do have hope that will be presented in later passages. But, for now, we will continue to look at the darkness that resides in all of us.
The main passage in this session is Romans 2:17-29. The focus is on the false assumptions of the Jews, regarding their status with God. They relied on the outward actions including circumcision to give them special status. Yet, Paul specifically identifies their hypocrisy and reveals that it is the circumcision of the heart that has to take place. And this is only possibly through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Video Reference: What Happens to People Who Never Hear the Gospel?
David Platt provides background regarding the focus of the book of Romans and answers the question: "What happens to people who never hear the gospel?"
Points to Remember
No one is without excuse (Romans 1:20 and Romans 2:1) because of the following, as described by David Platt in his book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, pp. 141 - 161.
- All people have a knowledge of God.
- All people reject God.
- All people are guilty before God.
"Even though the Jews knew a lot about God, they didn’t know His heart. They had disobeyed His commands. They had led other nations astray. They had relied on symbols like circumcision instead of trusting the Savior of the world.
When all was said and done, the Jews had no advantage over the Gentiles when it came to standing before God (Romans 3:1-8). All people find themselves in the same mess. They are sinful in God’s eyes and incapable of satisfying His demand for perfection (Romans 3:9-20). That’s why every person needs a Savior. Everyone is guilty and no one is without excuse!" (Source: ETB Personal Study Guide, p. 26)
